Yuguda Fires 6,000 Political Aides

Bauchi State governor, Malam Isa Yuguda, has drastically reduced his political aides in the state as part of government effort to review political appointments.

Before the reduction in the number of his political appointees, Governor Yuguda had 30 directors general, 25 special advisers,17 commissioners and more than 6,000 special assistants.

A statement by Secretary to the Bauchi State Government, Barrister Ahmed Ibrahim Dandija said, “following complaints by stakeholders that the majority of political appointments made by the state government are not only lopsided but don’t reflect the structure of the ruling party at state, local government and ward levels, Governor Isa Yuguda has approved a review of these appointments with immediate effect in order to pave way for the review”.

The statement also said “Director Generals, Senior Special Assistants, Senior Special Assistant II, Special Assistant and special assistant II are hereby disengaged with immediate effect”.

Dandija, however, said the appointees whose services are essential are not affected by the disengagement. They include those on essential services and political appointees attached to the governor and his deputy.

It said “fresh political appointments would be made shortly when the review is concluded”.

In a related development, some of the political aides appointed by the governor alleged that since they were appointed in April this year they did not collect a single kobo as salary from the government.

Yuguda’s chief press secretary Ishola Michael Adeyemi said it was true that the recently appointed aides were yet to begin drawing salary, especially those who did not finish their documentation, saying however that those who had finished their documentation received their salaries.